Communiqué of the General House of the Society of St. Pius X

Following the meeting of the Superiors of the Seminaries and Districts of the Society of Saint Pius X in Albano (Italy), on October 7, 2011, several comments have appeared in the press on the response Bishop Bernard Fellay [Superior General of the Society] would give to the Roman proposals of September 14, 2011. It is recalled that only the General House of the Society of Saint Pius X is entitled to make public an official communiqué or authorized commentary on this matter. Until further notice, reference should be made to the communiqué of October 7, 2011. (DICI of Nov. 2, 2011) [Original language: French]

33 comments:

Very wise, as the hidden & not so hidden Sedevacantists will do all they can to stop a reunion, as they cannot return to full Communion without a real change of heart. Not that I'm calling anyone in the SSPX who has any fears of union with our Holy Mother, The Church a Sedevacantist!

Yesterday's snap release of the British SSPX prelate was troubling of course. I immediately began to pray fervently and then the release was removed from Rorate's page. I took this as an answer of hope.

Obviously, if the answer is that "we agree that we cannot agree at this time" so be it. Disappointing, yes, not a cause of despair however.

At the same time, what Bp Fellay has effectively stated is that the "pre-amble" is essentially being reviewed and may be going through a few editions before it is finalized. Perhaps therefore there is still hope that a revised pre-amble may become acceptable to both sides.

If an agreement cannot be reached at this time, this will NOT signify the usual bromides that those who do not understand usually levy. The SSPX loves the Holy Father, honors him as the head of the Church, Christ's vicar on earth, and their head. Archbp LeFebvre was no Father Cekada, let's be clear on that. But will not follow any abuses against the Divine Will that a spiritually sick leadership may through imprudence insist on. Much like we are not duty bound by God to obey our earthly parents when they insist that we commit sin. We can thus be loving and obedient children without obeying sinful commands.

Whether an agreement is reached or not, the recent events at Assisi III highlight again that it is very reasonable for any Catholic to suspect or strongly believe that there is indeed a 'state of emergency'.

In particular, having an African witch doctor uttering prayers to a Voodoo goddess in a consecrated Catholic Church right from the pulpit - as Fr Z, not exactly an ardent SSPX supporter himself, deplored on his website - under the auspices of high ranking Catholic prelates (even presuming that the Holy Father was not involved in this scandal directly himself) highlights that the Church, all the way to the top, is deathly sick at this time.

I would very much like the pre-amble to be agreed upon soon, because a pre-amble denotes a legal agreement to follow. But if the agreement in any way forces chains upon the Traditional ministry of the SSPX, which a wholesome Catholic culture would never do, viz forcing its prelates to concelebrate NO Masses with the Pope or local ordinaries as the occasions may arise, or that they will not be able to state that the NO Mass, valid as it is, is a deplorable reduction and revolution in traditional liturgy and efficaciousness, or that they would need to participate in ecumenic scandals like Assisi III, and so on, then I agree that an agreement is premature.

May Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, guide both Vatican and SSPX. May Our Lady of Fatima, move and convert sinners on both sides and grant us the grace of Sacred Tradition being emblazoned into the heart and practice of the entire Church, from the Vatican to every diocese in the world. May St John Bosco obtain for St Peter's successor the graces of steering the Ark of Salvation safely through the rocky waters and pillars.

The only hope we ever had of this truest of peaces was the Rosary as it is not flesh and blood we battle but powers and principalities. Our Lady of the Rosary, please save your Church! Please give us the conversion of sinners within our clergy needed for this peace with Tradition to happen soon lest so many more millions of souls perish. Amen.

Yesterday's snap release of the British SSPX prelate was troubling of course. I immediately began to pray fervently and then the release was removed from Rorate's page. I took this as an answer of hope.

Obviously, if the answer is that "we agree that we cannot agree at this time" so be it. Disappointing, yes, not a cause of despair however.

At the same time, what Bp Fellay has effectively stated is that the "pre-amble" is essentially being reviewed and may be going through a few editions before it is finalized. Perhaps therefore there is still hope that a revised pre-amble may become acceptable to both sides.

If an agreement cannot be reached at this time, this will NOT signify the usual bromides that those who do not understand usually levy. The SSPX loves the Holy Father, honors him as the head of the Church, Christ's vicar on earth, and their head. Archbp LeFebvre was no Father Cekada, let's be clear on that. But will not follow any abuses against the Divine Will that a spiritually sick leadership may through imprudence insist on. Much like we are not duty bound by God to obey our earthly parents when they insist that we commit sin. We can thus be loving and obedient children without obeying sinful commands.

Whether an agreement is reached or not, the recent events at Assisi III highlight again that it is very reasonable for any Catholic to suspect or strongly believe that there is indeed a 'state of emergency'.

In particular, having an African witch doctor uttering prayers to a Voodoo goddess in a consecrated Catholic Church right from the pulpit - as Fr Z, not exactly an ardent SSPX supporter himself, deplored on his website - under the auspices of high ranking Catholic prelates (even presuming that the Holy Father was not involved in this scandal directly himself) highlights that the Church, all the way to the top, is deathly sick at this time.

I would very much like the pre-amble to be agreed upon soon, because a pre-amble denotes a legal agreement to follow. But if the agreement in any way forces chains upon the Traditional ministry of the SSPX, which a wholesome Catholic culture would never do, viz forcing its prelates to concelebrate NO Masses with the Pope or local ordinaries as the occasions may arise, or that they will not be able to state that the NO Mass, valid as it is, is a deplorable reduction and revolution in traditional liturgy and efficaciousness, or that they would need to participate in ecumenic scandals like Assisi III, and so on, then I agree that an agreement is premature.

May Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, guide both Vatican and SSPX. May Our Lady of Fatima, move and convert sinners on both sides and grant us the grace of Sacred Tradition being emblazoned into the heart and practice of the entire Church, from the Vatican to every diocese in the world. May St John Bosco obtain for St Peter's successor the graces of steering the Ark of Salvation safely through the rocky waters and pillars.

The only hope we ever had of this truest of peaces was the Rosary as it is not flesh and blood we battle but powers and principalities. Our Lady of the Rosary, please save your Church! Please give us the conversion of sinners within our clergy needed for this peace with Tradition to happen soon lest so many more millions of souls perish. Amen.

Very wise, as no doubt the hidden and not so hidden Sedevacantists in the SSPX will do they can to stop full union. Not that I'm calling everyone in the SSPX, who has fears of union with our Holy Mother, The Church, a Sedevacantist!

My take is that satan really, really, really does not want SSPX to persevere toward reconciliation and regularization and wants people on both sides to give up hope and stop praying, entrenched in pride at being right. satan wants all of SSPX and all their faithful and all all Catholics and everyone in the world in hell. Mercy of God, deliver us. St Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle...

Interesting comment regarding hidden and not so hidden sedevacantists. I think that hidden liberals, who are able to pass themselves off as traditionalists, also are trying to stop the SSPX from reconciling. The last thing that liberals want is for an influx of tradition into the Church. They use the old Marxist rule, developed from the Father of Lies, to keep the faithful in an agitated state, and therefore devided. Trads are so gullible.

It is sad and pathetic to observe that some such as this "Ecumenical Diabolicalblogger" try to foist any blame upon the Sedevacantists...any existing troubles have nothing to do with the Sedevacantists but are emanating from within the sspx itself, let the sspx heirarchy be accountable for their actions....there are two factions at work within, so put the blame where it is due, please, out of common decency if nothing else.

Don't forget to pray for the Poor Souls, especially Nov.1-8th. In return, through fraternal charity, they will certainly help us. Based on their POV, the poor souls know what is best for our situation here. May all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace!

But if the agreement in any way forces chains upon the Traditional ministry of the SSPX...forcing its prelates to concelebrate NO Masses with the Pope or local ordinaries as the occasions may arise, or that they will not be able to state that the NO Mass, valid as it is, is a deplorable reduction and revolution in traditional liturgy....

Dear MKT. Isn't it an ineluctable conclusion that is essentially the policy of Our Holy Father?

Letter of Pope Benedict XVI to the Bishops of the World to Present the "Motu Proprio" on the Use of the Roman Liturgy prior to the Reforms of 1970.Benedict XVI

...It is true that there have been exaggerations and at times social aspects unduly linked to the attitude of the faithful attached to the ancient Latin liturgical tradition. Your charity and pastoral prudence will be an incentive and guide for improving these. For that matter, the two Forms of the usage of the Roman Rite can be mutually enriching: new Saints and some of the new Prefaces can and should be inserted in the old Missal. The "Ecclesia Dei" Commission, in contact with various bodies devoted to the usus antiquior, will study the practical possibilities in this regard....

There is no contradiction between the two editions of the Roman Missal. In the history of the liturgy there is growth and progress, but no rupture. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place. Needless to say, in order to experience full communion, the priests of the communities adhering to the former usage cannot, as a matter of principle, exclude celebrating according to the new books. The total exclusion of the new rite would not in fact be consistent with the recognition of its value and holiness.

http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/b16SummorumPontificum2.htm

Our Holy Father has made it very clear, for a very long time, that the 1962 Missal must also be changed; how dramatic will that change be is the question.

Preamble - shamble. The Oath Against Modernism (St. Pius X) is sufficient for all purposes. That is the document that both sides should sign. But, you see, the modernists in control these days will have no part of it and continue to chastise the SSPX for not being in "full communion" with them. So be it!

"Prefaces and Saints should be added to the 1962 Missal". No mention of anything else. This would seem like the slow and organic change that Vat II requested. And it has not been done yet. Again following the Vat II directive that no changes should be introduced if not for the good of the people. Slow, studied, careful change. If the Missal can do this over the next several decades it may turn out to be the Missal of Vat II afterall. Vat II asked for a careful revision of the 62 Missal. Not entirely new books and prayers where every stanza was practically changed. An arguement could be made here. For the SSPX I really hope that they are doing what should be done and revising the Preamble if it is not in the best interest of Reconcilliation. A few adjustments are expected because the Vatican stated that this was a preliminary document subject to change. They indicated that right off the bat and did so wisely as not to box themselves into a corner. The SSPX belongs in the Church at this junture in time and I believe the Holy Father as Supreme Pastor will, along with Bishop Fellay, make it so for the goodness of souls and the Church. Those wishing to sabotage the union will fail. It may not be so clear today but this Pontificate will be known for the reconciling of the SSPX and the Traditions of the Church. I wholeheartedly believe that and pray for it to be so quickly. Many good things have come from Pope Benedict XVI in regards to the Joannine Missal and its' placement back into the life and heart of the Church. People involved in the "politics" of power in the Church can refuse to admit that, but a simple soul looking from the outside in, does.

Is it that satan does not want the sspx to persevere towards reconciliation? Or rather Divine Providence once again interferes to stop the sspx hiearchy who would compromise truth and tradition with those who are destroying the Church? It is the latter.

As long as the FSSP maintains strict silence about the numerous scandals on the part of Peter (think of Assisi 3 and the great condom debate), I hope that the SSPX holds their ground. It is clear that this so-called obedience comes at a great cost to conscience and the common good.

MKT: Of course the Church is sick to the top but I'm not sure the SSPX with a canonical status does much to cure that sickness. Some good of course, but the only thing that cures this sickness now is chastisement. Only our Lord knows of course and He can achieve all things but I'm only thinking chastisement (man made and heaven sent) will bring people back to a right faith.

You don't only block comments signed as "Anonymous", but others as well. Hypocrites. Overall, your agenda is questionable: seemingly pro-Tradition, yet modernistic. For you it would be enough to have TLM alone. Yet you use the image of St. Pope Pius X as your header.